Apparatus for assembling receptacle closures



Aug. 30, 1932.

J. A. JOHNSON APPARATUSFOR ASSEMBLING RECEPTACLE CLOSURES Filed Oct. 22. 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl III II I 'l Rum ,lilll- Sm Aug. 31), 1932.

J. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING RECEPTACLE CLOSURES Filed Oct. 22, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 1770624501" 11/7. Johnson Aug. 30, 1932. J. A. JOHNSON 1,375,010

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING RECEPTACLE CLOSURES Filed Oct. 22, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 fiwenlor 1/]. foiinson 1932- J. A. JOHNSON 1,875,010

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING RECEPTACLE CLOSURES 7 j'nuewr 6 JfZJOhzsan 3y (0 1932- J. A. JOHNSON 1,875,010

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING RECEPTACLE CLOSURES Filed Oct. 22, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 30, 1932. J. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING RECEPTACLE CLOSUHES Filed Oct. 22, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 By I, f I

Milo/Mg 1932- J. A. JOHNSON 1,875,010

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING RECEPTACLE CLOSURES Filed Oct. 22. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 1720621102 .Zfl.]bizns0n Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN A. JOHNSON, OF WOODHAVEN, NEW YORK Application filed October 22, 1980. Serial No. 490,402.

This invention relates to apparatus for assembling receptacle closure caps and particularly of the type arranged with corrugations of the caps will also approximately double the amount of caps assembled by the present commercial type of apparatus.

or rufiies about the margin and conunonlyi gther objects and advantages will hereintermed crown caps, and consisting in the assembling and adhesively securing of a sealing disk or pad in the closure cap, either by means of anadhesive previously applied'as a coating to the inner surface of the caps and m heating the same previous to the assembling of the sealing disks therein to render the adhesive viscous, or by supplying a fluid adhesive, or a disk as of paper impregnated with an adhesive in a non-viscous state, and then heating the caps with the fluid adhesive, or

the adhesive carrying disk, to render the adhesive viscous previous to the assembling of the sealing disks therein, and then placing the sealing disks under pressure in the caps 99 during the initial period of cooling of the heated closure caps, and it is the primary object of the invention to provide an improved constructed and arranged apparatus for this purpose that will increase the production of closure caps without materially increasing the structural cost of the apparatus, and without the necessity of an increased number of attendants over what is now required in the operation of present closure cap assemm bling apparatus.

In the present commercial type of apparatus for this purpose the closure caps are intermittently fed and positioned relative to the means or devices for delivery of the caps to the apparatus, applying adhesive and sealing disks to the caps and placing the disks in the caps under pressure, which intermittent feeding of the caps requires considerable power at the beginning of each intermittent movement and places the different parts of the apparatus under great stress and strain requiring the frequent replacement of parts. Therefore, it is another object of the invent on to overcome this disadvantage by con tinuously feeding the caps relatiye to the various assembling devices and actuating said assembling devices to perform the necessary functions relative to the caps during the continuous travel of the caps relative to said assembling devices. The continuous traveling a r appear.

In carrying out the invention I provide a continuously traveling endless closure cap transporting conveyor arranged with plates in sequence or series, said plates being arranged at opposite ends with closure cap re- 0 ceiving and supporting seats to which the caps are delivered by means arranged at the sides and one end of a stretch of the conveyor to be transported for the length of such stretch of the conveyor, and during the trans- 66 porting thereof by the conveyor passing the caps through a zone having an elevated temperature to render viscous an adhesive applied to the inner surface of the ca s, or ass the caps relative to devices to supp y an a e- 7o sive thereto in a semi-fluid state, or in a nonviscous state by supplying a disk as of paper impregnated with the adhesive to the caps, and then passing the caps through the zone of elevated temperature to render the adhesive viscous, and then passing the caps relative to devices for applying sealing disks or pads of cork or composition cork to the adhe sive carrying caps, and provide means to which the assembled caps. are transferred from the transporting conveyor to apply pressure to the sealing disks in the caps. The

- pressure applying means comprises a pair of finishing heads rotatable in synchronism with the movement of the cap transporting con veyor with a peripheral portion of each head in juxtaposed relation to the caps on the conveyor so, that plungers carried by the heads in an annular series will yieldingly engage the caps in the supporting seats and transfer said caps through the arcuate direction of travel of the plunger from said seats to the heads where the plungers maintain the disks in the caps under pressure until the plungers are released to engage further caps in the supporting seats of the cap transporting conveyer. The assembled caps are held under pressure by the plungers during a predetermined travel of the heads when the plungers are released from the closure caps and the m0 caps are directed from the heads by the travel thereof onto an inspection conveyor in the form of a belt traveling transversely of the cap transporting conveyor and below the heads and by which conveyor the assembled caps are delivered to a suitable depository. The cap transporting conveyor is adjustable to synchronize the travel of the cap relative to the operations of the various assembling devices to assure proper assembling of the caps.

In the drawings accompanyin and forming a part of the application li igure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the entrance or forward end of the apparatus showing cap delivery chutes relative to the cap transporting conveyor.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the manner of delivering caps to the cap supporting seats of the conveyor.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the devices for applying sealing disks to caps transported by the conveyor.

Figure 5 is a sectional perspective view of the sealing disk applying devices taken substantially on line 5-5 'of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 (sheet 1) is a fragmentary view showing the initial step of assembling a sealink disk in a cap as it is transported by the ca conveyor.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showin a further step in the assembling of the sealing disk in a cap.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the devices shown in Figure 4, and showing means to control the operation thereof.

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view lookingrat the front of Figure 8.

igure 10 is a dissembled view in perspective and partly in section of slides and slideways comprising part of the means shown in Fi re 8 to control the feedin of sealing dis s to caps transported by t e cap conveyor.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of parts in dissembled relation of the control means of the sealing disk feeding devices shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of devices for supplying adhesive in a semifluid state to the caps transported by the conveyor.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13-13 of Figure 12 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 14 is a sectional view of the outlet means of the adhesive supplying devices of Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the fin-' ishing heads in relation to the cap transporting conveyor and inspection conveyor showing only a part of the cap engaging plungers Figure 20 is an end elevation of the apparatus looking at the right of Figure 1.

Figure 20a is a side elevation of means for effecting adjustment between the cap trans porting means and its actuating means.

Figure 20?) is a sectional view taken on the line 206-20?) of Figure 20a looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 21 (sheet 1) is a detail view in side elevation of a finishing head and showing the transferring of the caps from the cap transporting conveyor thereto relative to the plungers and the manner of the plungers engaging the caps transferred to the heads.

Figure 22 (sheet 3) is a fragmentary plan view of the finishing heads in relation to the cap transporting conveyor to show the transferring of the assembled caps from said conveyor to the heads.

Figure 23 (sheet 2) is a detail view in perspective to show the mounting and driving means for the inspection conveyor belt shown in Figures 19 and 20. v

Figure 24 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus showing the devices for stam ing paper disks impregnated with adhesive rom webs and delivering the disks to the caps on the cap transporting conveyor.

Figure 25 is a side elevation looking at the right of Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the devices shown in Figures 24 and 25.

Figure 27 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of a plunger constituting a part of the devices shown in Figure 24.

Figure 28 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a device to position the sealing disks delivered to caps in intimate contact with the adhesive in the caps.

Figure 29 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the various positions a plunger of the device shown in Figure 28 assumes relative to a transported cap; and

Figure 30 is a plan view looking at the top of Figure 28. v v

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the operative parts are mounted upon na'led at opposite ends in bearing members 30 fixed upon the table T, and the opposite end of the conveyor is supported by a sprocket wheel 31 fixed to a shaft 32 journaled in .a bearing member 33 (Figures 1, 2 and 12) slidably mounted upon the table to have 1on gitudinal adjustment by bolts passed through elongated slots in a flange of said bearing member, as at 34, and perforations in the table and secured in adjusted position by an adjustable abutment in the form of a set screw 35 threaded into a portion of the bearing member overhanging the end of the table to abut the end of the table and locked .slack in the conveyor.

in adjusted position by a lock nut, and by means of which bearing member the sprocket wheel 31 is adapted to be adjusted to take up The conveyor is adapted to support the cans by plates 36 fixed in close sequence or series to the chain, in the present instance to laterally extended angle portions of alternate links, as at 37, of the chain (Figures 4, 8 and 9) with the opposite ends of the plates extending beyond the opposite sides of the conveyor chain and having bifurcations 38 in the opposite ends, the connecting portion between the legs of the bifurcation being of arcuate shape to form cap supporting seats.

The cap transporting conveyor travels with the upperstretch thereof moving from the left hand end to the right hand end of the apparatus as viewed in Figure 1. The caps are delivered to the seats of the cap supporting plates of the conveyor at the commencement of travel of said conveyor stretch, said means comprising chutes 39 leading from the outlet of the hopper or hoppers (not shown) to opposite sides of the conveyor with the outlets of the chutes arranged in the plane of travel of the cap supporting plates 36 and in line with the cap supporting seats therein, the caps 40 being delivered from the chutes by gravity (Figure 3) and the seats of the plates being maintained in horizontal alinement with the outlets of the chutes by being guided and supported (Figures 1 and 2) by portions 41 of the table T supporting the chutes andspaced from each other to provide a passage for the travel of the conveyor chain. Means are provided for retaining the caps delivered into the plate seats from the chutes and during the travel of the conveyor with the caps from. the chute outlets, comprising a" plate 42 arranged intermediate the caps seated in the cap supports with the op- 'posite edges of the plate positioned to engage over the mar the plate seats, sai plate being hingedly supported at one end, as at 43 whereby it may be ralsed, as shown in Figure 2, to get access to the caps in the cap supports at said end of the conveyor, and releasably secured in position to engage over the conveyor and adapted to co-operate with a guard plate 44 fixed u on the sprocket wheel bearing member 33 igures 1, 2 and 12). The cap supporting bifur cations 38 are arranged in the end of the cap supporting plates whereby the caps will readilyTefilter the seats from the chutes.

from a drive shaft 45 journaled in hangers 46 suspended from the table to rotate on an axis transverse of the table, said shaft being driven from a suitable source of power by a belt 47 passing around a pulley 48 fixed on the shaft and said shaft also having a loose pulley 49 thereon juxtaposed to the fixed pulley to which the belt is adapted to be shifted by a shifter 50 to render the apparatus inoperative. The conveyor is operatively connected with the shaft 45 by gearing comprising a pinion 51 fixed to shaft 45 meshing with a gear 52 carried by an extended end of a shaft 53 j ournaled in the hangers 46 above the drive shaft 45 (Figure 20), and a pinion 54 fixed to the other end of the shaft 53 meshing with a gear 55 rotatable with the shaft 28 carrying the chain sprocket wheel 27. The rate of rotation of the shaft 28 is reduced relative to the speed of the drive shaft 45 by the gearing to actuate the conveyor and pass the cap supporting seatsrelative to the outlets of the chutes 39 at a speed to readily receive the caps as they are delivered by gravity from the chutes.

The caps are retained against lateral displacement from the cap supportin seats 38 during the travel of the conveyor by a pair of rails 56 supported on the table at opposite sides of the conveyor to extend in the plane of travel of the cap supporting plates. To hold the caps against upward displacement a pair of guide rails 57 are fixed upon the rails 'nal portion of the caps in I e conveyor is continuously actuated he caps are successively moved from the cap delivery chutes by the travel of the conveyor relative to adhesive supplying means, and then through a zone having an elevated temperature, and then to means to apply sealing disks to the adhesive carrying caps. .In the structure of Figures 1, 12 and 13 devices are provided for supplying an adhesive in a fluid state to the caps, and

comprise adhesive carrying receptacles 59, one for each row of caps carried by the conveyor, said receptacles being adjustably carried by a projection extending laterally from a head 61 slidably mounted in a sideway in a pillar 62 mounted on the table and straddling the conveyor, the head being carried by rods 63 arranged at opposite sides of and vertically reciprocatory transversely of the line of travel of the conveyor, said adis in the nature of syringes, (Figure 14,)

comprising tubes 64 threaded into and extended through openings in the projection 60 to have longitudinal adjustment and secured in adjusted position by' nuts 65 threaded onto said tubes at opposite sides of said projection and to the upper end of which tubes the adhesive rece tacles 59 are connected. The syringe tu es have outlets in the lower ends, and the discharge of the ad hesive is controlled by plungers each embodying a head and an elongated teat 66 extended from the head and slidably en aged in the tube outlets, the plunger heads being normally urged to closing position against the-tube outlets by springs 66' confined be tween the plunger head and the end of the tube connected with the receptacle. The adhesive carrying receptacles are reciprocated in timed sequence with the travel of a pair of opposed caps transported by the conveyor relative to the adhesive applying means, said means assuming its lowermost position when the caps are passing directly below the same, the syringes being adjusted so that just previous to the terminus of the downward movement the plunger teats will engage the caps and the continued downward movement of said means, due to the engagement of the plunger teats. with the caps, moving the plungers inward against the action of the spr ngs and opening the outlets of the syrlnges to permit the adhesive to flow down the teats, the teats'having a suflicient loose fit with the walls of the outlet to permit of said flow of the adhesive. This contact of the teats with the caps is only momentary but of suflicient duration of time to permit of a spot or drop of adhesive to be supplied to the caps. The rods 63 are reciprocated from a shaft 67 extending longitudinally of the apparatus and journaled in hangers 68 fixed to and extending downward from the table T, said shaft being driven from the shaft 45 through bevel gearing 69. The rods areactuatcd by an eccentric on said shaft operatively connected with the rods by a strap encircling the eccentric, as shown at 70, the strap having a laterally extending arm 71 whereby it is pivotally connected with a crosshead 72 in which the rods are mounted.

The adhesive supplied to the caps may be in the form of paper disks having one surface impregnated with an adhesive in a nonviscous state, the disks being severed from webs and positioned in caps during the travel of the caps relative to disk severing means and embodying a structure as disclosed in Patent No. 1,768,605,'issued July 1, 1930, and illustrated in Figures 24 to 27, inclusive, of the drawings of the present application and, comprising a pair of rolls (not shown) of adhesive carrying webs W with the webs guided in parallel relation to each other transversely above the traveling rows of caps by guideways 73 in a bracket 74 mounted upon the table T to extend transversely above the cap transporting conveyor each guidway having a perforation 75 (Figure 27) in alinement with each row of the conveyor cap supporting seats and relative to which perforations punches 76 are vertically movable to cut disks from the webs and deposit them in caps traveling below the perforations. These punches are threaded into a projection 77 extending laterally from a head 78, and secured in position by lock nuts 79, the punches slidably engaging openings in a block 80 fixed upon the bracket 74 to guide the punches to the perforations in the web guideways, as shown at 81 in Figure 27. The punch carrying head 78 is slidably supported in a'slideway in a pillar 82 mounted on the table and straddling the cap transporting conveyor, and is reciprocated in timed sequence with the continuous travel of the caps on the conveyor from the shaft 67 through a strap encircling an eccentric fixed on the shaft, as shown at 83, and connected to the head by a cross head 84 pivotally connected to the strap by an arm 85 extending laterally from the strap and fixed to the head 78 by rods 86 fixed to and extending downwardly from the head through perforations in the table T at opposite sides of the cap transporting conveyor with the free ends thereof connected at the opposite ends of the cross head 84, as shown in Figures 24 and 25. To assure the depositing of the severed disks in caps passing below the punches, the punches are arranged with tubular punch heads 87, Figure 27, having a'beveled cutting edge adapted to co-operate with the annular edge formed at the juncture between the web guideways 73 and the wall of perforations 75 therein to sever the disks from the webs W at the lowermost position of the punch carrying head 78 which occurs at the initial position of the caps during the travel thereof pass the heads 87 said heads being carried by stems levers adapted to engage adjustable abut.-

ments in the form of headed screws 93 threaded in the top of pillar 82 and secured in adjusted positions by lock nuts, as shown in Figures 25 and 26, the abutments being adjusted to rock the ends of the levers engaging the stems 89 in a downward direction during the web severing movement of the punch head 78, whereby the heads 88 will be actu-- ated to strip the severed disks from the cutting edge of the punch heads 87 and position the same in a passing cap, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 27 ,the plunger heads 88 being returned to normal position within the punch heads by the springs 90.

The adhesive carrying webs W are fed in the guideways relative to the punches by feed fingers in the form of blocks 94 loosely mounted on a rod 95 extending transversely above the guideways and fixed in upwardly extending arms 96 of a slide 97 slidably mounted on a part of the bracket 74 extended laterally of the table T, the web engaging portion of the blocks being preferably arranged with a friction member, such as a rubber block 98 (Figure 26), and yieldingly urged into engagement with the webs upon the guideways by springs 99, the webs being guided to said feed fingers between oppositely flared guide plates 100 fixed to the bracket 74. The feed fingers are reciprocated from an eccentric 101 fixed to the shaft 67 having a strap or collar 102 encircling the same and connected with the'slide 97 by a lever 103 pivotally supported by an arm 104 extended laterally and downward from the bracket 74, said lever being loosely connected at one end to the slide 97, as at 105 in Figure 24, and the other end adjustably connected to a rod 106 fixed to and extending laterally from the strap 102. To prevent retrograde movement of the webs upon the return movement of the feed fingers pawls 107 are loosely mounted on a rod 108 fixed in brackets 109 mounted upon the bracket 74, said pawls having plates 110 fixed to and extended beyond the pawls with the extremities serrated and adapted to engage upon the webs in the guideways. The pawls are retained in position with the serated plates yieldingly engaging the webs by weights adjustablyv mounted on pins fixed in and extending forwardly of the pawls, as at 111 in Figure 26.

' The pawls are arranged on the rod 108 to rest upon the webs at an angle inclined forwardly to the vertical and as the webs are advanced by the feed fin ers 94' the webs will readily pass below sai serrated plates. However, should return movement be imparted to the webs such movement will cause the serrated fingers to forcibly impinge against the-webs and hold them against movement.

Means are provided to render either feeding-finger inoperative to feed the respective webs should there be no cap passing either of the punches. For this purpose latches 112 (Figure 26) are slidably mounted in the sides of bracket 74 between blocks 112' fixed on the upper edges of the bracket 74 on opposite sides of the latches to have movement 1n a direction toward and away from the feed fingers and into and out of the path of movement of pins 113 fixed in and extending laterally from said fingers, the latches havmg a weighted lateral extension 114 to normally move the latches to position out of the ath of movement of the finger pins 113. hould there be no cap passing the front punch, as shown in Figure 26, the finger feedlngthe web in the guideway at the left hand side in said figure, will be rendered inoperative by a weighted lever 115 pivotally mounted on the bracket 74 with the weighted end thereof arranged with a contact piece 116 extending into the line of travel of the row of caps in the forward seats (Figure 26) to engage by gravity caps that are transported relative to said front unch, the opposite end of said lever adjustably engaging the latch extension 114 by means of a set-screw 117,

the punch the end engaging screw 117 will be moved in an upward direction thereby rocking the latch 112 to cause the finger pin 113 to ride along the same and hold the feed- 1ng finger out of engagement with the web and thus prevent a feeding of the web to the front punch, and upon the actuation of the punch no disk will be positioned relative to the empty cap seat. The finger that feeds the web in the guideway 73 at the right hand s de of Figure 26 is also rendered inoperat1ve if no cap is traveling toward the rear punch, as shown in Figure 26, in a manner similar to that of the front plunger by a lever 118 fixed to one end of a shaft 121 pivotally mounted on the bracket 74 transversely of the guideways 73, said lever having a weighted contact end 119 extending in alinement with the line of travel of the caps in the rear series of cap supporting seats (Figure 26) to engage a cap traveling toward the rear punch. Should there be no cap in the end of said shaft opposite to the end on which the lever 118 is mounted. The rotatin of the shaft 121 will raise the free end of t e lever .120 into engegement with the latch extension 114, which engagement is adjustable by a set-screw similar to set-screw 117 threaded into the engaging end of the lever 120 whereby the latch 112 is rocked and the finger feeding the web in the right hand guideway is disenga ed from said web preventing the feeding 0 a portion of said web to the rear .punch and the positioning of a severed disk .from the web relative to an empty cap suporting seat. The lever 115 is bent outwardy from the bracket 74 to clear the lever 118 and revent interference with the operation of sa1d levers. It will be obvious that by the mechanism described that either of the web feeding means is rendered inactive should there be no caps in the seats passing the punches to receive disks severed from the webs by the punches and that such condition of the mechanism will be maintained until there are caps in the conveyor seats to receive disks severed from the webs.

The adhesive carrying caps as they are continuously transported from the adhesive supplying devices are moved through a zone having an elevated temperature created by a suitable heating device, and shown as comprising gas burning means embodying pipes 121 arranged above and below the line of caps transported by the cap transporting conveyor and having burner orifices arranged to direct the flame toward the lines of caps, said burner means being connected with a source of supply by a pipe 122 with interposed valve controlled mechanisms 123, 123', (Figure 1).

The devices for applying sealing disks to the adhesive carrying caps comprises plungers 124 adjustably and slidably carried by a laterally projecting portion 125 of a head 126 slidable in a pillar 127 fixed upon the table and straddling the cap transportlng conveyor, said plungers being arranged above and in line with the caps carried by the cap supporting seats and having vertical reciprocatory movement toward and away from the caps, said plunger carrying head being reciprocated by an eccentric on the shaft 67 operativel connected with the plunger carrying head y a strap encirclin said eccentric, as at 128, pivotally connecte by a laterally extending arm 129 to a cross-head 130 connected by rods 131 with the plunger carrying head 126, (Figure 5). The sealing disks D are carried in stack formation in magazines in the form of tubes 132 fixed in and extending upward from blocks 133 which blocks also serve as guides for the plungers 124 by arranging the same in spaced relation to supporting blocks 134 arranged with slideways 135 for .ejectpr slides 136 upon which blocks the stacked disks are supported in normal position. The slides are reciprocatory in a -stacked disks participating direction transversely of the travel of the conthe cap transporting conveyor as they are moved past the plungers. The slides are reciprocated by actuators 137 slidably mounted in slideways 138 in brackets 139 fixed upon the table at opposite sides of the conveyor and adapted to support the blocks 134 with the slideways 135 above the slideways 138. The ejector slides 136 are slidable on the top of the actuator slides 137 (Figure 10) with an end of the former in abutting relation to a wall 140 of said slides 137 whereby as said slides 137 are moved inward toward the movement is imparted to the slide 136, an to impart return movement to the slides 136 they have a releasable connection with the slides 137 comprising latches 141 pivotally carried by the slides 136 and adapted to engage in back of the walls 140 of slides 137 to couple the slides together. The slides are actuated from the shaft 67 by eccentrics 142, 143 fixed to said shaft. The eccentrics are connected with the slides 137 by straps encircling the eccentrics and pivotally connectd by rods 144 with one arm of levers 145, as at 146, said levers being pivotally carried by downwardly extending arms 147 of the brackets 139 and have pin and slot connections 148 with the slides 137. The latches 141 are normally urged to releasing position by slides 149 vertically slidably mounted in the recesses in the brackets 139 by plates 161, and yieldingly urged into engagement with pro'ections 150 fixed to and extending laterally rom the latches by angle levers 151 pivotally mounted on the brackets 139 with on angle arm urged into lifting engagement with ears 152 extending laterally from the slides 149 and through perforations in the plates 161 by springs 153 fixed to the brackets 139 and the other arms of the levers 151 urging the arms of the levers 151 engaging the projections 152 in an upward direction thereby lifting the slides 149 and the latches out of engagement with the end wall 140. To prevent the delivery of a disk from the stacks should there be no cap in a cap seat of the conveyor passing relative to the plungers 124 means are provided to control the latch connection of the slides by caps seated in the cap seats'of the conveyor. For this purpose levers 154 are pivotally mounted on the sides of the brackets 139 with the ends of horizontal portions of upward extending arms of the levers adjustably engaging the top portion of the plate ears 152 by a setscrew 156 threaded into the levers, and the opposite ends of the levers arranged with feelers 155 to be projected into the path of travel of the caps in the seats transported by the conveyor and adapted to be engaged by the caps as they approach the plungers 124, and by the engagement of such caps are moved to position to move the end of the levers 154 engaging the ears 152 in a downward direction permitting the latches 141 to engage the slides 137 against the tension of the springs 153. Should there be no cap in a' cap seat of the conveyor and consequently no support for the feeler ends of the leverssaid ends of the levers will be permitted to move downward through the action of the springs 153 on the opposite ends of the levers through the slides 149 thereby elevating said slides and releasing the latches from the slides 137 and as retrograde movement is imparted to said slides no participating movement will be imparted to the slides 136. To properl position the disks in alinement with the ungers 124 the engaging ends of the slides 136 are arranged with an arcuate recess 157 con forming to the shape of the caps, and to preh vent the positioning of the disks laterally beyond the plungers and block perforations 158 abutments 159 are mounted between the blocks 133 and 134 and having an arcuate recess 160 (Figure 10) for engagement with the caps.

The slides 136 are actuated toward the caps in the conveyor seats to position disks against the abutments 159in alinementwith the plungers and block perforations 158 while the plungers 124 are in an elevated position and said plungers are then actuated in a downward direction through the disk supporting blocks in synchronism with the passing of caps below the perforations 158 in the blocks 134, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the heads of the plungers being positioned in the lowermost position thereof above the flanges of the caps with the disks within the passing caps (Figure 7) which disks are stripped from the plunger heads by the travel of said caps through the engagement of the disks within the flanges of the caps and in loose contact with the adhesive in the caps.

The caps with the assembled disks are continuously transported from the disk applying devices to means to place the disks under pressure to intimately adhere the disks to the I caps and during the travel of the caps from said disk applying devices to the pressure means the adhesive becomes cool and congeals and as the disks have not been positioned 7 into intimate contact with the adhesive by the plungers, as shown in Figure 28, the pressure means cannot intimately unite the disks to the caps. To overcome this disadvantage devices are provided adjacent the disk applying devices to position the disks into intimate contact with the adhesive in the caps before it congeals, and comprising plungers 162 pivotally mounted in alinement with the 66 plungers 124 in a pair of bifurcations of a bracket 163 fixed to the head projection 125, by heads 164 arranged with oppositely extending trunnions 165 rotatably mounted in the le s of the bracket bifurcations (Figure 30), t e plungers being slidably mounted in the heads 164 and the downward-movement thereof limited by nuts 166 threaded on the plungers to abut the heads. The plungers y this arrangement will have swinging movement above and in the planeof travel of each series of cap supporting seats to engage and position the dISkS in caps in the seat supports against the adhesive during the continuous travel of the caps with the conveyor, and to assure engagement of the plungers with the disks in. the caps during the downward movement of the head 126 the plungers are yieldingly urgedto position to incline in a direction toward the plungers 124 by springs 167 secured at the ends to the head pro ection 125 and ins 168 fixed to and extending laterally rom the outer plunger ead supportin trunnions 165, said pivotal movement of t e plungers 162 toward the plungers 124 being adjustably limited by abutments in the form of set-screws 169 threaded through the heads 164 to abut the wall of the connecting portion of the bifurcations, the set-screws being secured in adjusted positions by lock nuts 170. The engagement of the plungers 162 in the traveling caps will rock the plungers against the ten- $1011 of springs 167 until the caps have traveled beyond the arc of movement of the plungers, at which time the head 126 will be no moving in an upward direction thereby moving the plungers away from the caps, as shown in Figure 29 the length of the period of rocking of the plungers being sulficient to position the disks in intimate contact with the adhesive in the caps. To facilitate the mounting of the plunger carrying heads 164 upon the bracket 163 the bifurcations of the bracket 163 are formed by angularly recessing the outer corners of the no bracket, as at 171, and arranging a bore 172 through the parallel sides of the recesses (Figure 30) for the rotatable mounting of the inner trunnions 165 of the plunger carrying heads 164, plates 173 being releasably secured to the sides of the bracket 163 to consitute the other leg of the bifurcations and each having a perforation therein in alinement with the bore 172 for the rotatable engagement of the outer trunnions 165 of the plunger carrying heads 164. The bracket 163 is fixed to the head projection by bolts 173'.

The pressure applying means comprise a pair of rotatable finishing heads 174, 175 125 loosely mounted on vertical spindles 176 fixed in arms 177 extending laterally from the table T on opposite sides of the cap transporting conveyor, the heads being secured on the spindles against axial movement by collars 178 (Figure 17 fixed to the spindles. An annular seriesof plungers 179 are slidably carried by each head by a pair of spaced rings 180, 181, the rings 181 being juxtaposed to I the heads and adjust-ably secured thereto by bolts 182 slidably engaged in slots 183 to permit annular ad ustment of said rings relative to the heads (Figure with the rings 180 supported from the rings 181 in spaced 10 relation thereto by studs 184 having the opposed ends reduced to engage in alined perforations in the rings (Figure 17), the upper ends of said studs belng extended through the rings 180 for the engagement of nuts to 18' secure said rings thereto. The heads are continuously rotated by and in synchronism with the travel of the cap conveyor to present successive plungers relative to caps in the supporting seats passing by said plungers by I crown gears 185 fixed axially to the bottom of each head and meshing with pinions 186 fixed to the opposite ends of a shaft 187 rotatable in bearing members 188 supported by the table T at opposite sides of the cap I conveyor, the shaft extending transversely of the travel of the cap conveyor and operatively connected to and driven from said conveyor by a sprocket wheel 189 fixed intermediate the ends of shaft 187 to engage the sprocket chain C of the cap transporting conveyor, as shown in Figure 21, sheet 1. To lubricate the surfaces between the hubs of the tables 174, 175 and the bearing surfaces of the arms 177 lubricant is delivered to said surfaces from cups 190 mounted on the upper ends of the spindles 176 in communication with a duct 191 leading through the-spindles to said bearing surfaces (Figure 17) I The assembled caps as they are transported from the devices that position the sealing disks in contact with the adhesive in the caps are transferred from the cap supporting seats of the transporting conveyor to the finishing heads and are placed under pressure by the plungers-179, and to accomplish this purpose the finishing heads are mounted with the opposed peripheral portions thereof positioned below and intersect the travel of the caps in the cap supporting seats, as shown in Figure 22, with the plunger carrying rings 181 above said seats by providing an annular eripheral recess 192 around the upper surace of the heads in alinement with the plungers 179. The heads are rotated in the direc- 65 tion of travel of the cap transporting conveyor, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 19, and as the plungers 179 approach the caps transported by the conveyor the plungers are moved away from the tables against the influence of springs 193 coiled about the plungers and confined between the plungers and plunger carrying rings 180, by arcuate cam members 194 mounted on the table T by standards 195 in juxtaposed relation to the peripheral portions of the rings 180 adjacent the approachingisection of thecap transporting conveyor i ures 15 and 19), the cam members being adapted to be adjusted circumferentially of the rings by mounting said cam members on the standards by bolts engaged in arcuate slots 196 in the cam members and threaded into the standards. The plungers are actuated by the cam members through the rollers 197 rotatably mounted on studs fixed in and extending laterally from the ends of the plungers projecting above the rings 180 and adapted to ride upon and off from the cam members through the rotation of the finishing heads whereby the heads of the plungers are elevated or moved and retained in position away from the heads 174, 17 5 as the lungers by) rotation of the heads approach t e caps in t e cap supporting seats of the conveyor and as the lifted plungers assume a position in alinement with the ca s in the supporting seats the rollers ride 0 the cam members and the plungers engage the alined caps and impinge the same against the finishing heads under the influence of the springs 193, whereupon the engaged caps are removed from the cap supporting seats 38 of the conveyor by the continued rotation of the heads, the caps being retained under the pressure of the plungers with the sealing disks in intimate contact with the adhesive in the caps for the major portion of a revolution of the heads during which time the adhesive is cooled or congeals. To assure the proper positioning of the cap supporting seats between the plungers and the tables of the heads as there is a tendency of the upper stretch of the cap transporting conveyor to buckle in an u ward direction as it passes around the sprock et wheel 27 and adjacent which the heads are located the cap conveyor adjacent the point Where the plungers engage the sealing disks in the caps is maintained in a level plane by a roller 198 carried in a bifurcated end of a rod 199 adjustably secured intermediate the ends of a cross-member 200 mounted on the ends of the head spindles 176 to extend between the heads, as shown in Figures 15 and 20. Should the cap supporting seats of the cap transporting conveyor become out of alinement with the plungers due to the stretching of the conveyor chain or otherwise the plunger carrying rings are adjusted to aline the plungers with the cap in supporting seats of the conveyor by loosening the bolts 182 and adjusting the lower rings 181 and therewith rings 180 concentrically of the finishing heads. The actuation of the plungers 179 relative to the caps in the cap supporting seats may be regulated by loosening the cam securing bolts engaging the slots 196 in cam members 194 and adjusting said members circumferentially of the plunger carrylng rings.

After the sealing disks have intimately ad hered to the caps the plungers are released 13C j as from the caps by the plunger rollers 197 riding up the cam members 194, the released caps on the finishing heads being deliveredtherefrom by fingers 201 fixed to and extend ng from the standards 195 in juxtaposed relation to the heads174, 175 (Fi res 15, 18 and 19) to intersect the travel 0 the caps with the heads, the caps through the rotation of the heads engaging with and being directed by said fingers from said heads to chutes 202 fixed to the standards .195 and extended in opposite directions from below the heads, in two rows to the upper stretch of a conveyor belt 203 for inspection, said conveyor traveling below and transversely of the cap conveyor;-

the caps bein transported by said conveyor belt to a suita le depository. The inspection conveyor belt is supported between drums 204, 205, drum 204 being rotatably mounted in a bifurcated bracket 206'supported by a standard 207, and the drum 205 being rotatably mounted in a bracket 208 (Figure 19) fixed to the table T. The upper stretch of the belt is adapted to travel in a direction toward the drum 204, and is actuated through the rotation of the drum 205 from the shaft 67 blyI a ct sprocket chain 209 passing between a sproc wheel on shaft 67 and a sprocket wheel 210 rotatably mounted in an arm extended from bracket 208 and rotatable with a gear 211 meshing with a gear 212 fixed to the shaft of drum 205, as shown in Figure 23.

To render the apparatus operative apd inoperative the belt shifter is carried and actuated by a rod 213 pivotally mounted in a bracket 214 extended from the table T (Figure 1) and to prevent igniting of the adhesive in caps and scorching of caps positioned relative to the gas burning means121 during the inoperativeness of the apparatus, the rod 213 is connected at the actuating end thereof, as indicated at 215, to a gas supply control valve mechanism 123 connected to a post 216 fixed to and extending erpendicularly from the rod 213 by links 217 whereby upon the shifting of the belt 47 from the fixed pulley 48 to the loose pulley 49 the gas supply is shut off from the burners, and upon the shifting of the belt to the fixed pulle the gas is delivered to the burners where t e gas is ignited I by pilot lights of suitable structure.

To assureproper and uniform engagement of the cap conveyor chain C with sprocket wheel 31 and prevent interference between the lower stretch of the -chain and the actuation of the cross-heads 72 and 130, a take-up roller 218 is pivotally mounted from a hanger 68 by a lever 219 and is adapted to be adjustably positioned relative to the chain by a setscrew 220 threaded into an angle bracket 221 fixed to the hanger 68 to abut the lever 219, as shown in Figure 1.

The heads 61 78 and 126 and slides 97, 137 are adapted to be adjusted to be actuated by the shaft 67 through the eccentrics on said 28 by a worm wheel 224 fixed to the s aft 28 juxtaposed to the gear 55 and arran ed with an annular flan e extending latera ly from the hub beyond t e teeth thereof and in abutting engagement with a recess in the adjacent face of the gear 55, as at 225 in Figure 206, the width of the flange being greater than the depth-of the recess so that the outer side of the flange will project from the face of the gear. he gear 55 is adapted to beadjustably coupled to the worm wheel by washers 226 engaged on reduced threaded ends of studs 227 in the present instance three in number, threaded disposed about the gear 55 adjacent the peripheryof the flange, the washers being interposed between the face of the gear and the shoulder of the studs formed by the reduced ends thereof and overlap the peripheral portion of the flange projecting from the face of the gear, the studs being arranged at the free ends for the application of a wrench to firmly draw the washers to the flange. To effect the adjustment of the cap conveyor chain the washers 226 are released to permit of rotative adjustment of the shaft 28 through the rotation of a worm 228 rotatably mounted on the side of the gear 55 meshin with the worm wheel 224 and adapted to %e actuated by a crank applied to a squared projecting end of the Worm shaft (Figure 200.). By the rotating of the worm 228 with the gear 55 released from the worm wheel 224, said wheel and shaft 28 are rotated independently of the gear 55, whereby the cap supporting seats are actuated to the desired positions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, .an endless flexible conveyor adapted to travel at a predetermined continuous rate of speed and arranged with successive cap supporting seats extending from opposite sides of the conveyor, means to deliver caps to the into and circumferentially cap supporting seats, devices relative to to engage the caps in the supporting seats of the conveyor and transfer the same from the conveyor to the head and place the sealing disks is the caps under pressure. p

2. In assemblin apparatus for" closure caps, a continuous y traveling endless conveyor, plates fixed in successive arrangement to the conveyor with the ends extending from opposite sides of the conveyor and arranged with cap recelving and supporting seats in the opposite ends, cap dellvery chutes relative to the outlets of which chutes the cap receiving seats in the plates pass by the travel of the conveyor and receive caps therefrom, devices for delivering sealing disks to closure caps supported in said plate seats and relative to which devices said seats are continuously passed by the travel of the conveyor, and means to which the caps are transferred from the cap seats for placing the sealing disks assembled in the caps under pressure.

3. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, as claimed in claim 1, means to engage the conveyor and maintain the cap seats in iluxtlaposed relation to the plunger carrying 4. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, as claimed in claim 2, means superposed to the cap receiving plates adjacent the cap delivery chutes to direct caps from the chutes into and maintain them in the cap seats of the plates.

5. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, a continuously traveling endless con,- veyor, plates fixed in successive arrangement to the conveyor to extend transversely of and with the ends extending from opposite sides of the conveyor and having cap receiving and supporting seats in the opposite ends, cap delivery chutes relative to the outlets of which chutes the cap receiving seats in the plates pass b the travel of the conveyor to receive caps rom the chutes, devices for delivering adhesive and sealing disks successively to the closure caps supported in said plate seats and relative to which devices said seats are continuously passed by the travel of the conveyor, and means to which the assembled caps are transferred from the cap supporting seats to place the disks in said caps under pressure.

6. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 5, wherein the devices for delivering adhesive to the traveling caps comprises a head bridging and reciprocatory toward and away from the cap transporting conveyor, and a fluid adhesive carrying receptacle carried by said head having syringe outlet means arranged in the line of travel of the caps and moved by the movement of the head into engagement with and operative to deposit adhesive in the successive caps during the travel of the caps relative to said devices.

7. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 5, wherein the devices for delivering adhesive to the traveling caps carrying webs transversely of the travel of the cap conveyor, and punches reciprocatory toward and away from the conveyor to sever disks from a fed portion of each web and position the severed disks in the caps during the transporting of the caps relative to and below the punches by the conveyor.

8. Assemblin apparatus for closure caps as claimed in c aim 2, wherein the devices for delivering sealing disks to the traveling caps comprises magazines arranged above and at opposite sides of the conveyor having disks stacked therein, plungers movable toward and away from the conveyor in line comprises means to feed a pair of adhesive with the caps transported thereby, and slides movable transversely of and alternately with the plungers to dehver the lowermost disks from the stacks and position the same relative to and delivered by the plungers to the caps during the transporting of the caps relative to and below the plungers by the conveyor v 9. ssembling apparatus for closure caps as claimedin claim 2, wherein the devices for delivering sealing disks to caps transported by the conveyor comprises plungers movable toward and away from the conveyor in line with the caps transported thereby, magazines arranged above and at opposite sides of the conveyor having disks stacked therein, slides movable transversely of and to deliver the lowermost disks from the magazines and position them relative to the plungers, reciprocator actuators for the slides, means to releasa 1y connect the slides to and actuate the slides from the actuators, and means operative to normally disconnect the slides from the actuators and actuated by caps transported by the conveyor in ad-- vance of the plungers to release said connecting means and maintain the connection of the slides with the actuators during the transporting of caps by the conveyor relative to the plungers and the delivery of disks to the plungers from the magazines.

' 10. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, a continuously traveling conveyor, plates fixed in a series to the conveyor with the ends extending from opposite sides of the conveyor and arranged with cap receiving and supporting seats in the opposite ends, cap delivery chutes relative to the outlets of which chutes the cap receiving seats in the plates are transported'by the travel of the conveyor and adapted to receive caps from the chutes, devices for delivering sea i ing disks to the closure caps supported in said plate seats and relative to which devices said seats are successively passed by the continuous travel of the conveyor, and a pair of heads continuously rotatable in a horizon tal plane with a peripheral portion of each head engaging below and intersecting the travel of the caps transported by the conveyor and carrying an annular series of plungers movable toward and awa from the heads and adapted to engage t e caps in the cap seats of the conve or positioned relative to said peripheral liead portions and transfer the caps to the heads by the rotation of the heads and place the disks in the caps under pressure.

11. In assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 10, means to transmit the movement of travel of the conveyor to synchronic rotation of the heads, and means fixed relative to the heads to actuate the plungers away from the heads as the plungers approach the cap supporting seats of the conveyor by the rotation of the heads and permit movement of the plungers toward the heads into engagement with the caps transported by the conveyor relative to the intersecting peripheral portion of the heads, and the plungers ieldingly maintained in engagement with the caps until transported by the heads relative to said fixed plunger actuating means.

12. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 10, wherein the heads are rotatable in the direction of travel of the conveyor and the plungers are yieldingly urged toward the heads, and the means to actuate the plungers comprise cam members fixed relative to the periphery of the heads and upon which cam members lateral projections of the plungers ride as the plungers approach the cap supporting seats of the conveyor by the rotation of the heads to position the plungers away from the heads and said seats travel in interposed relation to the plungers and heads, and said cam members being arranged whereby the plunger projections ride off from said cam members as the peripheral portions of the heads in line with the plungers intersect the travel of the cap supporting seats and engage caps in the cap seats to place them under pressure.

13. In assembling apparatus for' closure caps as claimed in claim 10, an endless conveyor traveling transversely of and below the cap transporting conveyor relative to the rotatable heads, and means intersecting the path of travel of the assembled caps on the rotatable heads adapted for the engagement and delivery of the caps from the heads to said second conveyor by the rotation of the heads.

14. Assembling apparatus for closure caps asclaimed in claim 1, whereln the cap transporting conveyor comprises a chain and a series of transverse plates fixed to and extending transversely of the chain with the ends of the plates extending beyond the sides of the chain and arranged with U- shaped bifurcations for engagement and supporting of the caps at the flared margins thereof.

15. In assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 10, wherein the conveyor comprises a sprocket chain, and means to transmit the continuous movement of the conveyor chain to continuous synchronic rotation of the heads comprising crown gears fixed to the heads, a sprocket wheel meshing with the sprocket chain, and spur gears rotatable with the sprocket wheel meshing with the crown gears.

16. Assembling apparatus for closure caps as claimed in claim 10, wherein the plungers are adapted to be adjusted concentrically of the heads to synchronize the travel of the plungers with the travel of the cap supporting seats of the cap transporting conveyor.

17. In assembling apparatus for closure caps, a continuously traveling endless conveyor arranged with successive cap supporting seats, means to deliver caps to the cap supporting seats, devices relative to which the caps transported by the conveyor are passed to apply adhesive and sealing disks to the successive caps, means to engage the disks delivered into the caps into intimate contact with the adhesive in the caps, comprising plungers reciprocatory with the sealing disk applying devices toward and away from the caps in the cap supporting seats of the cap conveyor and pivotally mounted to have swinging movement in the plane of travel of said cap supporting seats, and means to which the assembled caps are delivered from the conveyor to place the disks in the caps under pressure.

18. Assembling ap aratus for closure caps as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lungers for engaging the sealing disks into intimate contact with the adhesive in the caps are pivotally,m'ounted on a head carried by the sealing disk applying devices and reciprocatory toward and away from the caps on the conveyor, whereby the plungers will have swinging movement to engage caps supported in the supporting seats of the cap transporting conveyor and freely travel with the caps in an arc of the pivot mounting thereof.

Signed at city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 25th day of September, 1930.

JOHN A. JOHNSON. 

